This Thanksgiving Eve, two of Akron’s more acclaimed indie-rock outfits are joined by Rubber City rockers from yesteryear. The Difficult (formerly known as “the Diffi-cult,” but rock and roll and punctuation don’t mix) made its mark from 1983 to 1992, then relapsed this April, and is playing an ongoing series of reunion shows. “I was talking to Michael Stanley one time,” says singer-guitarist David Giffels (center). “And he told me, ‘Rock and roll will either kill ya or keep ya young.’ But that seems awfully extreme. I think it should be more like a bowling league.'”

This article appears in Nov 16-22, 2005.